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Russell Westbook and Kevin Durant like the look, the navy blue and vertical lettering

By John Rohde •
Modified: November 9, 2012 at 10:49 pm •
Published: November 9, 2012

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As of halftime of Friday night's 105-94 victory over Detroit at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Thunder had sold 1,000 of the team's navy blue alternate jersey since it was unveiled Thursday.

Bethany Brown and Cliff Brown look at the new alternate Thunder uniforms before an NBA basketball game between the Detroit Pistons and the Oklahoma City Thunder at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. Photo by Nate Billings, The Oklahoman

Game night sales were 40 percent higher Friday than on an average night. The arena merchandise shop will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday, plus during that night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Thunder All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, one of the league's fashion trendsetters, said he approved of the alternates. “They look nice, man,” Westbrook said. “A nice blue, navy blue. It's a nice uniform. I like it.”

In a NewsOK.com survey, however, 58.5 percent of voters did not approve of the alternates.

“You're going to have people who like them and people who don't, but I'm pretty sure they're going to get the jersey,” Westbrook said. “Somebody's going to get it. They're different, and that's one thing about an alternate. You want to switch the colors up, make it look a little different, and that's what they did.”

Three-time scoring champion Kevin Durant said he was ready for something new.

“Been putting on the same uniform for five years, you know,” Durant said with a smile. “So a different look, I guess, is always good. I like that the ‘Thunder' (lettering is vertical). Navy blue is a big change from the orange and blue, so I like them.”

The Thunder Girls also wore a new navy blue uniform for the Pistons game.

SERGE'S SURGE

Thunder power forward Serge Ibaka has sizzled offensively the last four games, averaging 19.3 points while shooting 31 of 46 (. 674) and 14 of 15 (. 933) from the free-throw line.

He had a career-high 25 points against the Pistons, which gave him the first back-to-back 20-point games of his career following a 21-point effort at Chicago on Thursday night.